Explore the Collections

Philadelphia Museum of Art: Handbook of the Collections

Varahi is one of the seven Mothers, the active powers of the Hindu gods. She is the female aspect of the god Vishnu, preserver of the universe, when he assumed the shape of a mighty boar to raise the world from primeval waters; for this reason she is shown with a boar's head. Subtly modeled and individually conceived, as is apparent despite the intensive weathering of the richly colored stone, this image is an outstanding example of carving from the Gupta period, which itself represents the height of achievement of Indian sculpture, although it is better known for Buddhist than for Hindu images. Stella Kramrisch, from Philadelphia Museum of Art: Handbook of the Collections (1995), p. 49.